On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes on two groups of Hamas militants in Gaza who were reportedly attempting to seize humanitarian aid. The strikes killed 13 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, though the IDF emphasized that their target was to prevent the hijacking of aid trucks and allow safe delivery to Gaza residents.
The IDF clarified that no humanitarian aid trucks were struck, and the transit routes for aid remained open. The targeted individuals were described as Hamas fighters involved in the theft of aid intended for civilian populations. The airstrikes were part of Israel’s broader efforts to ensure the safe distribution of aid while preventing it from being used to support further terrorist activity.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported a higher death toll, including victims it identified as security personnel guarding aid trucks, though the IDF’s statement suggested that many of the deceased had links to Hamas operations.
In a separate operation, the IDF recently eliminated a top Hamas weapons manufacturer and several other militants involved in the October 7 attacks. The Israeli military continues to target Hamas infrastructure, including command centers embedded within civilian areas.
Meanwhile, Israel issued an evacuation warning for several Gaza City neighborhoods after rockets were fired from those areas, escalating tensions as the conflict continues.